Senate Bills - 110th Congress

S. 1804—The National Agriculture and Food Defense Act of 2007

On July 17, 2007, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced S. 1804, the National Agriculture and Food Defense Act of 2007. The purpose of the bill is to enhance the ability of the United States to prevent, prepare for, detect, and respond to agriculture and food emergencies. Of interest to NIH is a provision that would require the Secretary of HHS, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, the Director of the CDC, and the Director of NIH, in collaboration with the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Under Secretary for Protection, Preparedness, and Response and the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) to coordinate the surveillance of zoonotic diseases that could potentially cause a significant impact on public health. In addition, the bill would establish the National Veterinary Stockpile Advisory Committee on which the Director of NIH would serve as a member. S. 1804 was referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.